George Eustice

Environment needs not be stumbling block in UK–EU agreement

Retrieved on: 
Monday, July 27, 2020

The EU Environment Sub-Committee writes to Secretary of State George Eustice MPto summarise the key findings from its inquiry on Environment and the Level Playing Field in the UKEU negotiations.

Key Points: 
  • The EU Environment Sub-Committee writes to Secretary of State George Eustice MPto summarise the key findings from its inquiry on Environment and the Level Playing Field in the UKEU negotiations.
  • In June and July this year, the Committee took evidence from industry, environment NGOs, and environment, climate and trade law specialists as part of its Environment and the Level Playing Field inquiry.
  • The Committee has now written to the Secretary of State with its key findings, including:
    The Government should consider domestic measures to build trust, such as strengthening the environmental principles and the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) in the Environment Bill, and cooperate with the devolved administrations to develop compatible arrangements
    Chair of the Committee, Lord Teverson , also emphasised:

Environment needs not be stumbling block in UK–EU agreement

Retrieved on: 
Monday, July 27, 2020

The EU Environment Sub-Committee writes to Secretary of State George Eustice MPto summarise the key findings from its inquiry on Environment and the Level Playing Field in the UKEU negotiations.

Key Points: 
  • The EU Environment Sub-Committee writes to Secretary of State George Eustice MPto summarise the key findings from its inquiry on Environment and the Level Playing Field in the UKEU negotiations.
  • In June and July this year, the Committee took evidence from industry, environment NGOs, and environment, climate and trade law specialists as part of its Environment and the Level Playing Field inquiry.
  • The Committee has now written to the Secretary of State with its key findings, including:
    The Government should consider domestic measures to build trust, such as strengthening the environmental principles and the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) in the Environment Bill, and cooperate with the devolved administrations to develop compatible arrangements
    Chair of the Committee, Lord Teverson , also emphasised:

Brexit update from Environment Secretary

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, July 7, 2020

The EU Environment Sub-Committee questions Defras Secretary of State George Eustice on his Departments preparations for the end of the transition period and priorities for the UK-EU future relationship negotiations.

Key Points: 
  • The EU Environment Sub-Committee questions Defras Secretary of State George Eustice on his Departments preparations for the end of the transition period and priorities for the UK-EU future relationship negotiations.
  • Rt Hon George Eustice MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
    The Committee has been examining a number of Defras policy areas that either need to be resolved in the UK-EU future relationship negotiations, or need to be implemented before the end of the Brexit transition period.
  • Members will be asking the Secretary of State about:
    Possible ways forward for the fisheries negotiations, particularly in relation to quota allocations

Brexit update from Environment Secretary

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, July 7, 2020

The EU Environment Sub-Committee questions Defras Secretary of State George Eustice on his Departments preparations for the end of the transition period and priorities for the UK-EU future relationship negotiations.

Key Points: 
  • The EU Environment Sub-Committee questions Defras Secretary of State George Eustice on his Departments preparations for the end of the transition period and priorities for the UK-EU future relationship negotiations.
  • Rt Hon George Eustice MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
    The Committee has been examining a number of Defras policy areas that either need to be resolved in the UK-EU future relationship negotiations, or need to be implemented before the end of the Brexit transition period.
  • Members will be asking the Secretary of State about:
    Possible ways forward for the fisheries negotiations, particularly in relation to quota allocations

No time to lose on Protocol implementation for Northern Ireland agrifood

Retrieved on: 
Friday, July 3, 2020

The EU Environment Sub-Committee writes to Secretary of State George Eustice to summarise the key findings from its inquiry on agrifood and the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Key Points: 
  • The EU Environment Sub-Committee writes to Secretary of State George Eustice to summarise the key findings from its inquiry on agrifood and the Northern Ireland Protocol.
  • In June this year, the Committee took evidence from organisations throughout the Northern Ireland agrifood supply chain, from the grain trade and farmers to food processors and retail, as well as the fishing industry.
  • The Committee has now written to the Secretary of State setting out its key findings, including:
    The Protocol is an opportunity for Northern Ireland to have a unique position in trade, but a UK-EU free trade agreement is critical to making this possible
    There are significant risks if the Protocol is implemented without enough preparation and a careful approach, particularly if standards diverge between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK: the viability of some Northern Ireland agrifood business operations could be threatened and Northern Ireland consumers could face higher food prices
    There is an urgent need for the Government to step up its engagement and start detailed discussions on proposals for how to implement the Protocol with Northern Ireland agrifood businesses.

No time to lose on Protocol implementation for Northern Ireland agrifood

Retrieved on: 
Friday, July 3, 2020

The EU Environment Sub-Committee writes to Secretary of State George Eustice to summarise the key findings from its inquiry on agrifood and the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Key Points: 
  • The EU Environment Sub-Committee writes to Secretary of State George Eustice to summarise the key findings from its inquiry on agrifood and the Northern Ireland Protocol.
  • In June this year, the Committee took evidence from organisations throughout the Northern Ireland agrifood supply chain, from the grain trade and farmers to food processors and retail, as well as the fishing industry.
  • The Committee has now written to the Secretary of State setting out its key findings, including:
    The Protocol is an opportunity for Northern Ireland to have a unique position in trade, but a UK-EU free trade agreement is critical to making this possible
    There are significant risks if the Protocol is implemented without enough preparation and a careful approach, particularly if standards diverge between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK: the viability of some Northern Ireland agrifood business operations could be threatened and Northern Ireland consumers could face higher food prices
    There is an urgent need for the Government to step up its engagement and start detailed discussions on proposals for how to implement the Protocol with Northern Ireland agrifood businesses.

Committee to hear from new Secretary of State for DEFRA

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, June 13, 2020

The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) will be holding a one-off evidence session with the new Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), George Eustice, on environmental plans after Brexit, and his future priorities.

Key Points: 
  • The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) will be holding a one-off evidence session with the new Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), George Eustice, on environmental plans after Brexit, and his future priorities.
  • The session will also cover topics such as the environmental implications of COVID-19, biodiversity, chemicals regulation, the Office for Environmental Protection and the Environmental Land Management scheme.

Committee to hear from new Secretary of State for DEFRA

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, June 13, 2020

The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) will be holding a one-off evidence session with the new Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), George Eustice, on environmental plans after Brexit, and his future priorities.

Key Points: 
  • The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) will be holding a one-off evidence session with the new Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), George Eustice, on environmental plans after Brexit, and his future priorities.
  • The session will also cover topics such as the environmental implications of COVID-19, biodiversity, chemicals regulation, the Office for Environmental Protection and the Environmental Land Management scheme.

Committee to hear from new Secretary of State for DEFRA

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, June 13, 2020

The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) will be holding a one-off evidence session with the new Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), George Eustice, on environmental plans after Brexit, and his future priorities.

Key Points: 
  • The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) will be holding a one-off evidence session with the new Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), George Eustice, on environmental plans after Brexit, and his future priorities.
  • The session will also cover topics such as the environmental implications of COVID-19, biodiversity, chemicals regulation, the Office for Environmental Protection and the Environmental Land Management scheme.

Minister ignores political reality of post-Brexit fisheries deal

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, May 21, 2020

The Committee initially wrote to Environment Secretary George Eustice MPin March about fears raised by its inquiry into access to British waters by foreign fishing fleets after the UK's withdrawal from the European Union.

Key Points: 
  • The Committee initially wrote to Environment Secretary George Eustice MPin March about fears raised by its inquiry into access to British waters by foreign fishing fleets after the UK's withdrawal from the European Union.
  • The response received from Victoria Prentis MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food was unsatisfactory and gave the impression that the Government is not genuinely seeking to reach a fisheries agreement.
  • While the Committee agrees with the Minister's point that the UK will have every right to control fishing access to its waters, the Minster ignored their central contention that exercising that right comes with consequences for both the fishing industry and the wider economy.
  • The Committees newly appointed Chair, Lord Teverson has asked the Minister to write to them again about the current state of play in the fisheries negotiations and whether she believes agreement will be reached by 1 July.